Submitted by CAMILA LEONEL DA SILVA null (camilaleonels_1@hotmail.com) on 2016-05-02T19:33:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE - Camila Leonel da Silva.pdf: 12839463 bytes, checksum: a432431aa8b8009a0183a4c0896c3e34 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Felipe Augusto Arakaki (arakaki@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-05-04T19:19:33Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_cl_dr_sjrp.pdf: 12839463 bytes, checksum: a432431aa8b8009a0183a4c0896c3e34 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-04T19:19:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_cl_dr_sjrp.pdf: 12839463 bytes, checksum: a432431aa8b8009a0183a4c0896c3e34 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-04-23 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / A transição epitélio-mesenquimal (EMT) é o processo pelo qual as células cancerosas a partir de tumores primários passam por uma conversão fenotípica para invadir e migrar, gerar metástases em tecidos ou órgãos distantes. Este processo pode ser induzido por fatores de crescimento, tais como Fator de Crescimento Transformante beta (TGF-β) e sua alta expressão tem sido implicada na angiogênese tumoral, na migração e invasão celular em muitos tipos de tumores. A expressão de ROCK-1 está associada com a malignidade dos tumores, enquanto a inibição desta molécula resulta em uma supressão significativa de metástases tumorais. A metformina, um fármaco utilizado no tratamento da diabetes, demonstrou inicialmente inibir a EMT e impedir o fenótipo mesenquimal pela repressão transcricional de pontos chave da regulação da EMT (ZEB1, TWIST1, SNAIL2, TGF-β) em células de câncer de mama. Os objetivos foram avaliar a expressão gênica e proteica de marcadores relacionados a metástase, em um estudo in vitro e in vivo, em linhagens de câncer de mama, após o tratamento com metformina, além do silenciamento gênico do TGF-β1 para inibição da transição epitélio-mesenquimal. Foi realizado a transfecção da linhagem celular metastática de tumor mamário canino CF41 de forma estável após a construção de um pequeno RNA de interferência para desenvolver derivados clonais que expressam níveis reduzidos de TGF-β1 (células TGF-β1sh). Este foi subsequentemente combinado com o tratamento com metformina, para analisar os efeitos sobre a migração de células, assim como a expressão dos marcadores de EMT E-caderina e N-caderina, quantificados através de imunofluorescência e do qRT-PCR. As linhagens mamárias humanas MCF-7 (não-metastática) e MDA-MB-231 (metastática) foram tratadas com metformina e inibidor Y27632, após a indução da EMT por TGF-β1 para examinar os efeitos sobre a migração destas células, bem como a expressão proteica dos marcadores ROCK-1, vimentina, E-caderina, CD44 e CD24 por imunocitoquímica. Em um estudo in vivo, as células não modificadas CF41 ou que expressam TGF-β1 shRNA foram injetadas na região inguinal de camundongos fêmea nude atímicos tratados com metformina. Os camundongos foram eutanasiados após o tratamento e os pulmões foram recolhidos para avaliação do número de metástases. As regiões metastáticas foram subsequentemente avaliadas pela expressão de N-caderina, E-caderina, vimentina e claudina-7 através da imuno-histoquímica. Foi possível avaliar que a taxa de migração e invasão foi menor em células TGF-β1sh, em comparação com as células parentais CF41 e esta inibição foi significativa quando combinado com o tratamento com metformina. As análises in vitro demonstraram que o tratamento com metformina reduziu a expressão de N-caderina e aumentou a expressão de E-caderina nas células CF41 e TGF-β1sh. Os resultados demonstram também que após a indução do TGF-β1 nas linhagens MCF-7 e MDA-MB-231 houve menor expressão das proteínas ROCK-1, vimentina, CD44 e CD24 em ambas as linhagens após tratamento com metformina e Y27632. Nas células MDA-MB-231 a expressão de E-caderina foi maior em todos os grupos de tratamento. O tratamento da linhagems MDA-MB-231 com metformina e Y27632 reduziu significativamente a invasão destas células. O estudo in vivo demonstrou que o tratamento com metformina reduziu o número de metástases pulmonares em animais portadores de tumores induzidos com as células TGF-β1sh. Houve diminuição da expressão de marcadores mesenquimais N-caderina e vimentina, e aumento da expressão de marcadores epiteliais E-caderina e claudina-7 nas metástases pulmonares. Assim, concluimos que este estudo confirma os benefícios do silenciamento do TGF-β1, além do tratamento com metformina e Y27632 como potenciais agentes terapêuticos em tumores de mama, bloqueando o processo de EMT e seu potencial metastático. / Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the process by which cancer cells from primary tumors pass through a phenotypic conversion to invade and migrate, generating metastases in organs or tissues distant. This process can be induced by growth factors such as transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and its overexpression has been implicated in tumor angiogenesis, cell migration and invasion in many cancers. ROCK-1 expression is associated with the malignant character of tumors, while inhibiting this molecule results in a significant suppression of tumor metastasis. Metformin, a drug use for the treatment of diabetes, was previously shown to inhibit EMT by suppressing expression of key transcription factors in breast cancer cells. The aims were to evaluate the gene expression and protein expression of related markers metastasis, in a study in vitro and in vivo in breast cancer cell lines after treatment with metformin in addition to the gene silencing of TGF-β1 for inhibiting epithelial-mesenquimal transition. These aims were contemplated performing transfected of canine metastatic mammary tumor cell line CF41 with small interfering RNA constructs to develop clonal derivatives expressing reduced levels of TGF-β1 (TGF-β1sh cells). This was subsequently combined with metformin treatment, to look at effects on cell migration, as well as the expression of the EMT markers E-cadherin and N-cadherin, which were quantified by immunofluorescence and qRT-PCR. MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines were treated with metformin and Y27632, after induction of EMT by TGF-β1, to examine the effects on cell migration as well as the protein expression of the ROCK-1 markers, vimentin, E-cadherin, CD44 and CD24 by immunocitochemistry. In an in vivo study, unmodified or TGF-β1 shRNA-expressing CF41 cells were injected in the inguinal region of nude athymic female mice that were treated with metformin. Mice were sacrificed after treatment and the lungs were collected to assess the number of metastases. Metastatic nodules were subsequently assessed for, N-cadherin, E-cadherin, vimentin and claudin-7 expression via immunohistochemistry. With the obtained results it was possible to assess the migration and invasion rate was lower in TGF-β1sh cells as compared to parental CF41 cells and this inhibition was significant when combined with metformin treatment. In vitro analyses demonstrated that metformin treatment reduced n-cadherin expression and increased E-cadherin expression in both CF41 and TGF-β1sh cells. After TGF-β1 induction in MDA-MB231 and MCF-7 cell lines, there was a lower protein expression of ROCK-1, vimentin, CD44 and CD24 in both cell lines after treatment with metformin and Y27632. In MDA-MB-231 cells, E-cadherin expression was increased in all treatment groups. Treatment of MDA-MB-231 cell line with metformin and Y27632 significantly reduced the invasion of these cells. In vivo studies demonstrated that metformin treatment reduced the number of lung metastases in animals bearing TGF-β1sh tumors. This paralleled a decreased expression of mesenchymal markers N-cadherin and vimentin, and increased expression of epithelial markers E-cadherin and claudin-7 in lung metastases.This study confirms the benefits of TGF-β1 silencing in addition to metformin and Y27632 as potential therapeutic agents in mammary tumors, by blocking EMT process and metastatic potential. / FAPESP: 2012/09778-1

A presença de metástase em linfonodos cervicais é o fator prognóstico mais importante para o carcinoma epidermóide de boca (CEB), uma das neoplasias malignas mais comuns da região de cabeça e pescoço. Estudos têm associado os mecanismos de progressão tumoral, recorrência e metástase com a presença e manutenção de células-tronco de câncer (CSC, do inglês cancer stem cells), que correspondem à subpopulação celular mais migratória e altamente metastática quando comparada com outras subpopulações presentes no tumor. Ainda, evidências recentes mostram que há uma ligação entre as CSC e o processo de transição epitélio-mesenquimal (EMT, do inglês epithelial-mesenchymal transition), evento em que as células perdem a polaridade e a aderência célula-célula e exibem uma morfologia mesenquimal, o que as permite migrar além do tumor primário. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi de avaliar, in vitro, a associação das propriedades biológicas relacionadas ao fenótipo tronco tumoral e de transição epitélio-mesenquimal, com o comportamento invasivo e metastático das linhagens SCC-9 de CEB primário e metastático correspondente. Para este fim, linhagens celulares parental (SCC-9 ZsGreen) e metastática (SCC-9 ZsGreen LN-1), obtidas após ensaios de tumorigênese in vivo, foram caracterizadas em relação à capacidade de proliferação e migração, bem como à presença e proporção da subpopulação de CSC, baseado na capacidade de formação de colônias tumorais, preferencialmente holoclones, e de esferas tumorais. Ensaios de expressão gênica (qRT-PCR) também foram conduzidos para se verificar os níveis de expressão diferencial dos marcadores de CSC (CD44, BMI1, ALDH1 e p75NTR), bem como de EMT (SNAIL1, TWIST1, AXL, vimentina, E-caderina e N-caderina) em ambas as linhagens tumorais, utilizando-se células epiteliais de palato humano (CEPH) como controle. Tanto a capacidade de proliferação e migração celular, quanto a quantidade de holoclones e esferas tumorais, foram significativamente maiores na linhagem metastática quando comparada com a parental. A linhagem metastática SCC-9 ZsGreen LN1 exibiu, ainda, superexpressão estatisticamente significante de CD44, BMI-1, AXL, vimentina e N-caderina e baixa expressão de E-caderina, quando comparadas com a linhagem parental. O potencial metastático de SCC-9 ZsGreen LN-1 parece ser uma consequência da sua maior quantidade de subpopulação com fenótipo de CSC que, ainda, passou pelo processo de EMT. Portanto, sugere-se que as propriedades biológicas relacionadas à capacidade metastática da linhagem SCC-9 ZsGreen LN-1 parecem estar relacionadas a ambos os fenótipos tronco tumoral e de transição epitélio-mesenquimal. / The presence of metastasis in cervical lymph nodes is the most significant prognostic factor for the oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), one of the most common malignant neoplasms of the head and neck. Studies have associated the mechanisms of tumor progression, recurrence and metastasis with the presence and maintenance of cancer stem cells (CSC), which correspond to the most migratory and highly metastatic cellular subpopulation when compared to other cell subpopulations within the tumor. Moreover, recent evidence shows that there is a link between the CSC and the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), an event in which the cells lose their polarity and cell-cell adhesion and exhibit a mesenchymal morphology, which allows them to migrate beyond the primary tumor. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate, in vitro, the combination of the biological properties related to CSC and EMT phenotypes with the invasive and metastatic behavior of the corresponding primary and metastatic OSCC SCC-9 cell line. For this, parental (SCC-9 ZsGreen) and metastatic (SCC-9 ZsGreen LN-1) OSCC cell lines, obtained after in vivo tumorigenesis assays were characterized regarding the ability of proliferation and migration, as well as the presence and proportion of CSC subpopulation, based on the capacity of generating tumor colonies, preferably holoclones, and tumor spheres. Gene expression assays (qRTPCR) were also conducted to verify the differential expression levels of CSC markers (CD44, BMI-1, ALDH-1 and p75NTR) and EMT (SNAIL1, TWIST1, AXL, vimentin, Ecadherin and N-cadherin) markers in both tumor cell lines, using human palate epithelial cells (HPEC) as control. Both proliferation and cell migration capacity, as well as the numbers of holoclones and tumor spheres were significantly higher in metastatic cell line compared to the parental. Furthermore, the metastatic cell line SCC-9 ZsGreen LN-1 showed significantly higher expression of CD44, BMI-1, ALDH- 1, vimentin, and N-cadherin and lower expression of E-cadherin, when compared to parental cell line. The metastatic potential of SCC-9 ZsGreen LN-1 seems to be a consequence of the greater amount subpopulation with CSC phenotype that also underwent the EMT process. Therefore, it is suggested that the biological properties related to metastatic ability of SCC-9 ZsGreen LN-1 cell line are related to both CSC and EMT phenotypes.

Introdução: O câncer de próstata (CaP) é o tumor mais comum em homens e a segunda causa de óbito por câncer no Brasil. Com a adoção do rastreamento, a maioria dos pacientes apresenta doença localizada ao diagnóstico, enquanto apenas 4% têm doença metastática. Um dos principais mecanismos responsáveis pela progressão tumoral é a transição epitélio-mesenquimal (TEM). Esse é um programa celular reversível no qual a célula epitelial perde a capacidade de aderência intercelular e assume um fenótipo mesenquimal com potencial invasivo e metastático. A principal característica da TEM é a repressão da E-caderina através de fatores de transcrição que incluem ZEB1, ZEB2, Snail, Slug e Twist1. Os microRNAs também estão envolvidos na regulação do processo, sendo a família do miR-200 uma das mais importantes e uma potente indutora da diferenciação epitelial. Assim sendo, o conhecimento dos fatores envolvidos na TEM no CaP é fundamental para a compreensão do comportamento biológico dessa neoplasia. Objetivos: Analisar a expressão dos genes e microRNAs envolvidos na transição epitélio-mesenquimal em espécimes de câncer de próstata localizado e em linhagens celulares de câncer de próstata metastático. Além disso, correlacionar o perfil de expressão dos genes e microRNAs com parâmetros clínico-patológicos. Material e métodos: O estudo consistiu na análise de espécimes de 51 pacientes com CaP localizado tratados por prostatectomia radical e de linhagens celulares de CaP metastático (LNCaP, DU145 e PC3). O grupo controle foi composto por 10 casos de hiperplasia prostática benigna. A expressão dos genes E-caderina, N-caderina, Vimentina, TGF-beta1, ZEB1, ZEB2, Snail, Slug, Twist1 e PDGF-D e dos microRNAs 200a, 200b, 200c, 429, 141, 203, 205, 183, 373, 21, 9, 1, 495, 29b, 30a, 34a, 155 e 10b foi avaliada através da técnica de PCR em tempo real (qRT-PCR) nos espécimes e nas linhagens. Para correlação com parâmetros clínico-patológicos, os pacientes foram divididos em grupos em relação ao escore de Gleason, estadiamento patológico, PSA pré-operatório, recorrência bioquímica e doença de baixo e alto risco. Para avaliação do tumor metastático, agrupamos as linhagens celulares e comparamo-las com tumores pT3. Resultados: A grande maioria dos casos apresentou superexpressão de E-caderina e Twist1 e subexpressão de N-caderina, Vimentina, TGF-beta1, ZEB1 e Slug. ZEB2, Snail e PDGF-D apresentaram expressão variável. A família do miR-200 e os miRNAs 203, 205, 183, 373 e 21 apresentaram superexpressão, enquanto que os miRNAs 9, 495, 29b e 1 apresentaram subexpressão. Os demais miRNAs apresentaram perfil de expressão variável. Níveis menores de expressão dos miRNAs 200b, 30a e 1 associaram-se significativamente com estadiamento patológico. Os pacientes com expressão reduzida do miR-200b também apresentaram associação com escore de Gleason >= 8 e com menor tempo de sobrevida livre de recorrência bioquímica. Ainda, níveis baixos do miR-30a e níveis elevados de Vimentina e Twist1 associaram-se com grupo de alto risco. As linhagens metastáticas apresentaram níveis de expressão do miR-183 e do Twist1 significativamente maiores quando comparadas ao tumor localizado. Conclusão: O CaP localizado mantém um fenótipo molecular epitelial. Menor expressão dos miRNAs 200b, 30a e 1 está associada com estadiamento mais avançado, sendo que o miR-200b também associou-se com maior escore de Gleason e menor tempo de sobrevida livre de recorrência bioquímica, e o miR-30a, com grupo de alto risco. A maior expressão de Vimentina e Twist1 apresentou associação com o grupo de alto risco. miR-183 e Twist1 apresentam maiores níveis de expressão em linhagens celulares metastáticas em relação ao tumor primário. De acordo com nossos resultados, os miRNAs 200b, 30a, 1 e 183 e os genes Twist1 e Vimentina podem ter um papel importante na progressão do CaP, além de serem potenciais marcadores prognósticos / Introduction: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common cancer in men and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in Brazil. After the adoption of screening, most patients present with localized disease at the time of diagnosis, while only 4% have metastatic disease. One of the main mechanisms of tumor progression is the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This is a reversible cell-biological program in which an epithelial cell loses intercellular adhesion and acquires a mesenchymal phenotype with invasiveness and metastatic potential. The main event in EMT is the repression of E-cadherin by transcriptional factors, including ZEB1, ZEB2, Snail, Slug, and Twist1. microRNAs are also involved in the regulation of this process, and one of the most important ones is the miR-200 family, which is a powerful inducer of epithelial differentiation. Therefore, the knowledge of the factors involved in EMT in PCa is essential to understand the biological behavior of this neoplasia. Objectives: Analysis of gene and miRNA expression involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition in specimens of localized prostate cancer and metastatic prostate cancer cell lines. Correlation between the gene and miRNA expression profiles and clinicopathological features. Material and Methods: This study consisted in the analysis of specimens from 51 patients with localized PCa treated by radical prostatectomy and of metastatic PCa cell lines (LNCaP, DU145, PC3). The control group was composed by 10 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Gene expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, TGF-beta1, ZEB1, ZEB2, Snail, Slug, Twist1, and PDGF-D as well as miRNA expression of 200a, 200b, 200c, 429, 141, 203, 205, 183, 373, 21, 9, 1, 495, 29b, 30a, 34a, 155, and 10b were assessed by Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR). The patients were divided into groups according to Gleason score, pathological stage, preoperative PSA, biochemical recurrence, and low and high-risk disease. For evaluation of metastatic tumor, the cell lines were grouped and compared to pT3 tumors. Results: The vast majority of the cases showed overexpression of E-cadherin and Twist1 and underexpression of N-cadherin, Vimentin, TGF-beta1, ZEB1, and Slug. ZEB2, Snail, and PDGF-D showed a variable expression pattern. miRNA-200 family and miRNAs 203, 205, 183, 373, and 21 were overexpressed, while miRNAs 9, 495, 29b, and 1 were underexpressed. The remaining miRNAs showed a variable expression pattern. Lower expression levels of miRNAs 200b, 30a, and 1 were significantly associated with pathological stage. Patients with lower expression of miR-200b also showed association with Gleason score >= 8 and biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS). Furthermore, low expression levels of miR-30a and high expression levels of Vimentin and Twist1 were associated with high-risk group. The metastatic PCa cell lines showed significantly higher expression levels of miR-183 and Twist1 in comparison to the primary tumor. Conclusion: Localized prostate cancer maintains a molecular epithelial phenotype. Lower expression of miRNAs 200b, 30a, and 1 was associated with higher stage. Low levels of miR-200b were also associated with high Gleason score and shorter BRFS, and miR-30a, with high-risk group. High expression levels of Vimentin and Twist1 were associated with high-risk group. miR-183 and Twist1 levels were higher in metastatic cell lines than in the primary tumor. According to our results, miRNAs 200b, 30a, 1, and 183 and the genes Twist1 and Vimentin might play an important role in the progression of PCa and may turn to be important prognostic markers

Entre todos os cânceres de pele, o melanoma está entre os menos comuns, mas é responsável pela maior parte das mortes. No caso da doença metastática, não há um tratamento satisfatório capaz de prolongar a vida do paciente. Isso leva à necessidade de novas estratégias e de novos tratamentos que possam reverter a quimiorresistência do tumor. Entre as proteínas que têm seu perfil de expressão modificado no melanoma está a proibitina, cuja expressão aumenta durante a progressão tumoral. Proibitina é uma chaperona mitocondrial pertencente a uma família de proteínas que possuem um resíduo hidrofóbico SPFH, que confere a ela uma capacidade de ancoragem e de organização de espaços em membranas. Além disso, no compartimento nuclear, é um inibidor da família de fatores de transcrição E2F, juntamente com a proteína retinoblastoma (Rb). Em melanomas, proibitina localiza-se no citoplasma, associada à mitocôndria, e no núcleo. No citoplasma, proibitina faz parte da resposta a diversas drogas, como cisplatina, dacarbazina, temozolamida, vimblastina e tunicamicina pode estar relacionado com o aumento de espécies reativas de oxigênio (ROS), já que essas drogas podem de alguma forma induzir ROS intracelular. O aumento de expressão de proibitina, nesse contexto, poderia fazer parte de uma resposta protetora da mitocôndria, o que em última análise protegeria a célula contra a morte celular, já que a inibição de proibitina sensibiliza a célula ao tratamento com cisplatina ou tunicamicina. Além disso, o estresse provocado pela privação de soro fetal bovino em linhagens de melanoma leva ao aumento de expressão de proibitina e é acompanhado pela indução de ROS. No núcleo, proibitina esta colocalizada com MCM5 e MCM7, mas não MCM2. A inibição de proibitina leva ao aumento de expressão de metaloproteinases de matriz extracelular, não só em melanomas, mas também em linhagens de câncer de mama e de câncer de pulmão. Ainda, proibitina parece estar relacionada com o fenômeno da transição epitélio mesênquima, já que a inibição de proibitina leva ao aumento de expressão de marcadores mesenquimais como N-caderina e vimentina e a perda de expressão de marcadores epiteliais, como a E-caderina. Outras funções controladas por E2F1 que proibitina pode estar modulando são a capacidade de E2F1 induzir reparo de DNA devido a lesões causadas por radiação UVB e a indução de senescência. A inibição de proibitina em linhagem de câncer de pulmão protegeu a célula contra o dano genotóxico causado pela radiação UVB, pelo aumento da proteína de reparo de DNA Gadd45a, que é induzida por E2F1. Ainda, a inibição de proibitina diminuiu a quantidade de células senescência induzida por adriamicina em linhagens de melanoma. Ainda, a expressão de proibitina responde a fatores do microambiente tumoral como TGF?, IL4 e LPS juntamente com INF? e, além disso, têm sua expressão diminuída durante a maturação de macrófagos. Esses resultados mostram que proibitina pode atuar protegendo o tumor ou bloqueando vias importantes para seu desenvolvimento, dependendo da sua compartimentalização subcelular / Among all skin cancers, melanoma is the least common, but is responsible for most deaths. In metastatic disease, no satisfactory treatment can prolong the patient\'s life. This leads to the need for new strategies and new treatments that may reverse tumor chemoresistance. Among proteins that have their expression profile altered in melanoma is prohibitin whose expression increases during tumor progression. Prohibitin is a mitochondrial chaperone belonging to a family of proteins which possess a hydrophobic residue SPFH, which gives it a capacity for anchorage and organization in membrane regions. Furthermore, in the nuclear compartment, prohibitin is an inhibitor of the E2F transcription factor family, together with the retinoblastoma protein (Rb). In melanomas, prohibitin is located in the cytoplasm, associated to the mitochondria, and inside the nucleus. In the cytoplasm, prohibitin is part of the response to various drugs such as cisplatin, dacarbazine, temozolomide, vinblastine and tunicamycin and may be associated with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), since these drugs can somehow induce intracellular ROS. Prohibitin overxpression in this context could be part of a protective response of the mitochondria, which ultimately protect cells against death, as prohibitin inhibition sensitizes cells to cisplatin or tunicamycin treatment. Moreover, the stress caused by deprivation of fetal bovine serum in melanoma cell lines leads to prohibitin overexpression and is accompanied by ROS induction. In the nucleus, prohibitin is colocalized to MCM5 and MCM7, but not to MCM2. Inhibition of prohibitin leads to increased expression of matrix metalloproteinases, not only on melanomas but also on breast cancer and lung cancer cell lines. Further, prohibitin appears to be related to the phenomenon of epithelial mesenchymal transition, since prohibitin inhibition leads to increased expression of mesenchymal markers such as N-cadherin and vimentin and loss of expression of epithelial markers, such as E-cadherin. Other functions controlled by E2F1 that are modulated by prohibitin include be the ability of E2F1 to induce DNA repair against UVB radiation and the induction of cellular senescence. Inhibition of prohibitin in lung cancer cell line protected against genotoxic damage caused by UVB radiation, due to DNA repair protein Gadd45a overexpression, which is induced by E2F1. Also, prohibitin inhibition decreased the amount of cell senescence induced by adriamycin in melanoma cell line. Further, prohibitin expression is triggered by tumor microenvironmental factors such as TGF?, IL4, and LPS together with INF? and, in addition, prohibitin expression decreases during macrophages maturation. These results show that prohibitin may act protecting the tumor or blocking pathways important for its development, depending on its subcellular compartment distribution

INTRODUÇÃO: As recidivas e as metástases são os fatores responsáveis pela morte de pacientes com câncer de pulmão (representando 90% dos casos), indicando a necessidade de conhecer as múltiplas vias sinalizadoras envolvidas em sua patogênese, progressão, invasão e metástase. Adenocarcinomas e carcinomas de grandes células invadem primariamente vasos sanguíneos e linfáticos, metastatizando à distância. Já os carcinomas de células escamosas envolvem diretamente o mediastino, sobretudo, linfonodos e pericárdio. Carcinomas neuroendócrinos de baixo grau (carcinoides típicos e atípicos) invadem e metastatizam apesar de serem indolentes, enquanto que carcinomas neuroendócrinos de alto grau (carcinoma neuroendócrino de grandes células e carcinoma de pequenas células), rapidamente metastatizam à distância. Esse espectro diferencial de invasividade nos carcinomas de pulmão ainda não pôde ser definitivamente demarcado por biomarcadores, sobretudo nas variantes neuroendócrinas. Neste aspecto, acredita-se que a EMT esteja mais intimamente envolvida no processo de invasão, despontando como potencial biomarcador. OBJETIVO: Realizar o mapeamento genético da EMT nos carcinomas pulmonares, estabelecendo uma assinatura gênica capaz de prever o potencial de invasão nos diferentes tipos histológicos do câncer de pulmão. MÉTODOS: Espécimes de tumores ressecados cirurgicamente e criopreservados de 60 pacientes foram submetidos a análise de expressão gênica através da qPCR em tempo real, por meio do kit RT2 Profiler PCR array para a EMT com 84 genes de interesse. RESULTADOS: Observou-se a elevada expressão de 24 genes (AKT1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL5A2, DSP, EGFR, FR11, GSK3B, ILK, ITGA5, ITGAV, ITGB1, JAG1, MAP1B, MMP2, MMP3, SNAI2, SPARC, SPP1, STAT3, TCF3, TGF?3, VPS13A, WNT5A) que participam do processo da EMT e atuam no desenvolvimento da neoplasia pulmonar. Tumores em estádio avançado e com metástases linfonodais apresentaram significante maior expressão dos seguintes genes, COL1A2, COL5A2, DSP, EGFR, FR11, GSK3B, ILK, ITGAV, ITGB1, MAP1B, SNAI2 e VPS13A. Comparando-se carcinomas nãoneuroendócrinos (CEC e AD) e neuroendócrinos (CT, CA, CPPC, CNEGC), observou-se que os neuroendócrinos apresentaram elevada expressão significativa dos genes: FR11, GSK3B, ILK, ITGB1, JAG1, MAP1B e VPS13A. Em relação à sobrevida, a análise univariada demonstrou menor sobrevida para pacientes em estádio avançado do tumor com metástase linfonodal e portador de carcinoma neuroendócrino que apresenta a hiperxpressão de todos os 24 genes da EMT, com exceção dos genes COL3A1 e SPP1. Pela análise multivariada demonstrou-se que pacientes com carcinomas neuroendócrinos com expressão elevada de MMP2 e SPARC apresentaram maior risco de morte (OR 5,41 e 4,94, respectivamente), enquanto que pacientes portadores de carcinomas de células escamosas ou adenocarcinomas com baixa expressão gênica de ILK, SPP1, COL1A2, ITGB1 apresentaram menor risco de morte (OR -7,02; -0,4, -1,3 e -3,02). CONCLUSÃO: Através do presente estudo estabeleceu-se uma assinatura gênica de 24 genes capaz de prever o potencial de agressividade histológica, de invasão e de metástases nos carcinomas pulmonares neuroendócrinos e não-neuroendócrinos / INTRODUCTION: Metastasis are responsible for the death of 90% of patients with lung cancer, indicating the need to know the multiple signaling pathways involved. Adenocarcinomas (Adc) and large cell carcinomas primarily invade blood vessels with distant metastasis, whereas squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) involves the mediastinal lymph nodes. Neuroendocrine carcinomas of low-grade (typical and atypical carcinoid) are indolent, while high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma (large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and small cell carcinoma) metastasize rapidly. Biomarkers of aggressiveness in lung carcinomas remain to be determined, especially in neuroendocrine variants. In these fields, Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) genes profile emerge promise as an indicator of invasion and metastasis. AIMS: Carry out the genetic mapping of EMT in lung cancer, establishing a gene signature capable of predicting the invasion potential of different histological types of lung cancer. METHODS: Were included specimens of 60 patients and the EMT gene expression was quantified with a quantitative real-time (RT)- PCR carried out on StepOnePlus(TM) Real-Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems) with RT2 Profiler PCR Array System for the EMT pathway wih 84 target genes. (Qiagen, Dusseldorf, Germany). Associations of the gene signature and clinicopathological features, as well as prognostic factors were evaluated. RESULTS: Was observed high expression of 24 genes (AKT1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL5A2, DSP, EGFR, FR11, GSK3B, ILK, ITGA5, ITGAV, ITGB1, JAG1, MAP1B, MMP2, MMP3, SNAI2, SPARC, SPP1, STAT3, TCF3, TGFbeta3, VPS13A, WNT5A) that are involved in the EMT process and act in the development of pulmonary neoplasia. Tumors at the advanced stage and with lymph node metastasis shown a significant higher expression of the genes COL1A2, COL5A2, DSP, EGFR, FR11, GSK3B, ILK, ITGAV, ITGB1, MAP1B, SNAI2 and VPS13A. Comparing the histological subtypes non-neuroendocrine (SqCC and AD) and neuroendocrine carcinomas (TC, AT, SCLC, LCNEC), was observed that the neuroendocrine variant shown a higher significant expression of the genes FR11, GSK3B, ILK, ITGB1, JAG1, MAP1B and VPS13A. Regarding survival, univariate analysis showed lower survival for patients in the advanced tumor stage, with lymph node metastasis and with neuroendocrine carcinoma histology that presenting overexpression for all 24 EMT genes, with the exception of the COL3A1 and SPP1 genes. Cox regression controlled by, histological types and gene expression of ILK, MMP2, SPP1, SPARC, COL1A2 and ITGB1 showed that patients with neuroendocrine carcinomas with higher expression of MMP2 and SPARC had a higher risk of death (OR 5.41 and 4.94, respectively), whereas patients with squamous cell carcinomas or adenocarcinomas with lower gene expression of ILK, SPP1, COL1A2, ITGB1 showed lower risk of death (OR -7.02, -0.4, -1.3 and -3.02). CONCLUSION: Was established a potential gene signature of 24 genes involved in the EMT process and capable of predicting the histological aggressiveness, invasion and metastasis in neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine variants of lung carcinomas

Introdução: Os marcadores moleculares têm sido utilizados para identificar subgrupos de tumores com comportamento clínico distinto, inclusive quanto ao padrão de recidiva. Objetivo: Caracterizar a expressão imunoistoquímica de vimentina (VIM) e E-caderina (CDH1) em carcinomas ductais invasivos (CDI) de mama e sua associação com a expressão de citoqueratina 5 (CK5), e características clínico-patológicas. Métodos: Microarranjos teciduais (TMA) foram construídos a partir de 82 amostras de CDI de mama. Imunoistoquímica (IHQ) foi realizada para determinar os receptores hormonais (RH; receptores de estrógeno e progesterona) e receptor do fator de crescimento epidérmico humano 2 (HER2), VIM, CDH1, CK5 e Ki-67. Os tumores foram classificados como luminal A (RH+, HER2-), luminal B (RH+, HER2+ ou Ki-67 alto), HER2 hiperexpresso (RH-, HER2+) e triplo negativo (TN; RH-, HER2-). Resultados: O fenótipo VIM+/CDH1-/low não foi observado nos tumores luminal A, B e HER2 hiperexpresso, enquanto que este fenótipo estava presente em 61,9% dos TN (p= 0,0001). A mediana de Ki-67 em tumores VIM+/CDH1-/low foi 13,6 (variação, 17,8-45,4), em comparação com 9,8 (variação de 4,1-38,1) nos não- VIM+/CDH1-/low (p= 0,0007). O acometimento linfonodal foi menos freqüente em pacientes com VIM+/CDH1-/low do que nos não- VIM+/CDH1-/low (23% X 61%, teste de 2, p = 0,01). A sobrevida livre de doença em 5 anos foi de 61,5% e 83,7% (teste de log-rank, p= 0,02) e a sobrevida global em 5 anos foi de 51,2% e 83,5% (teste de log-rank, p= 0,03) em pacientes com tumores com fenótipo VIM+/CDH1-/low e não VIM+/CDH1-/low, respectivamente. Conclusão: A expressão de VIM e CDH1 identificaram um subconjunto de CDI de mama com fenótipo mesenquimal com alto grau histológico e alto índice mitótico. / Introduction: Molecular markers have been used to identify subgroups of tumors with distinct clinical behavior, including recurrence pattern. Objective: To characterize the immunohistochemical expression of vimentin (VIM) and E-cadherin (CDH1) in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast and its association with cytokeratin 5 (CK5) expression and clinicopathological features. Methods: A tissue microarray was constructed from 82 IDC breast cancer specimens. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to determine hormone receptor (HR; estrogen and progesterone receptors) status and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), VIM, CDH1, CK5, and Ki-67 expression. Tumors were classified as luminal A (HR+, HER2-), luminal B (HR+, HER2+ or high Ki-67), HER2 enriched (HR-, HER2+), and triple negative (TNBC; HR-, HER2-). Results: The VIM+/CDH1-/low phenotype was not observed in luminal A, luminal B and HER2 enriched tumors, whereas this phenotype was present in 61.9% of triple negative (TNBC) tumors (p = 0.0001). The median Ki-67 index in VIM+/CDH1-/low tumors was 13.6 (range, 17.8-45.4) compared with 9.8 (range, 4.1-38.1) in non-VIM+/CDH1-/low tumors (p= 0.0007). The presence of lymph node metastasis was less frequent in patients with VIM+/CDH1-/low tumors than in those with non-VIM+/CDH1-/low tumors (23% vs. 61%; 2 test, p= 0.01). The 5-years disease-free survival was 61.5% and 83.7% (log-rank test; p= 0.02) and the 5-year overall survival was 51.2% and 83.5% (log-rank test; p= 0.03) in patients with VIM+/CDH1-/low phenotype and non-VIM+/CDH1-/low phenotype tumors, respectively. Conclusion: The expression of VIM and CDH1 identified a subset of IDC breast cancer of the mesenchymal phenotype with high histological grade and high mitotic index.

Les Neuropilines (NRPs) sont des récepteurs transmembranaires non tyrosine-kinase identifiés à l'origine comme des récepteurs pour les sémaphorines de la classe 3. Ces glycoprotéines sont particulièrements impliquées dans la migration de la crête neurale et dans la croissance axonale au cours du développement embryonnaire du système nerveux. En outre, les NRPs sont exprimées par une large variété de tumeurs et de nombreuses molécules solubles semblent interagir avec ces protéines pour moduler la progression tumorale. Parmi elles, les facteurs angiogéniques de la famille du facteur de croissance de l'endothélium vasculaire (VEGF) semblent être à l'origine d'une angiogénèse médiée par les NRPs.Tandis que la NRP1 a été largement étudiée et reconnue comme une cible intéressante dans le cadre du développement de thérapies anti-angiogéniques, très peu d'études s'étaient intéressées au rôle de la NRP2 dans la progression tumorale jusqu'à présent. La NRP2 semble réguler la progression tumorale par de nombreux mécanismes, non seulement l'angiogénèse mais aussi la lymphangiogénèse, la Transition-Epithélio-Mésenchymateuse (TEM) et la formation de métastases. A la vue de ces multiples rôles dans la progression tumorale, la NRP2 apparaît donc comme une cible intéressante dans le cadre du développement de thérapies ciblées innovantes en cancérologie. Au cours de notre thèse, nous nous sommes attachés à caractériser le rôle de la NRP2 dans la progression tumorale dans le cadre du cancer colorectal puis nous avons développé un anticorps monoclonal thérapeutique ciblant spécifiquement cette protéine. / Neuropilins (NRPs) are transmembrane non tyrosine-kinase glycoproteins first identified as receptors for class-3 semaphorins. They are particularly involved in neural crest migration and axonal growth during development of thé nervous System. Since many types of tumor and endothelial cells express NRP receptors. various soluble molécules were also found to interact with thèse receptors to modulate cancer progression. Among them, angiogenic factors belonging to thé Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) family seem to be responsible for NRPs-related angiogenesis.While NRP1 was intensively studied from many years and identified as an attractive angiogenesis target for cancer therapy. NRP2 signaling pathway has just recently been studied. NRP2 may regulate tumor progression by several concurrent mechanisms, not only angiogenesis but lymphangiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis. In view of their multiples functions in cancer promotion, NRP2 fulfills ail thé criteria of a therapeutic target for innovative anti-tumor thérapies. Our thesis focuses on NRP2-specific rôles in tumor progression and subséquent development of a NRP2-neutralizing monoclonal antibody.

Le cancer de la prostate (CaP) représente le premier cancer chez l'homme et la seconde cause de mortalité. Alors que la plupart des malades atteints de cancer de la prostate évoluent favorablement (forme indolente), une fraction non négligeable développera une maladie agressive avec l’apparition de métastases. La recherche des biomarqueurs tumoraux peut aider à différencier les CaP dits indolent et les CaP agressifs qui sont responsables du décès des patients. Ils permettront de mieux sélectionner des patients afin d’éviter le surtraitement. La protéine CRIPTO est le premier membre de la superfamille des protéines EGF-CFC. Ce facteur de croissance est largement impliqué dans le développement embryonnaire et s'exprime dans de nombreux types de cancers. Son rôle dans le CaP reste encore non élucidé. L’objectif de mon travail de thèse consiste à examiner le profil d'expression de CRIPTO et d'évaluer son impact potentiel sur l’agressivité du cancer de la prostate.Les résultats ont montré que CRIPTO est exprimé de manière significative dans 37,9% de CaP. Il est absent voire faiblement détecté dans les prostates hyperplasiques bénignes et dans les tissus sains. Nous avons montré ensuite que la surexpression de CRIPTO favorise une transition épithéliale-mésenchymateuse (TEM) associée à l’augmentation de la capacité de migration et de la survie des cellules tumorales. Les voies de signalisation régulées par CRIPTO impliquent l’activation des voies PI3K / AKT et FGFR1 / ERK.De manière très intéressante, les cellules tumorales mésenchymateuses surexprimant CRIPTO secrètent excessivement des vésicules. Nous avons tenté alors de découvrir le rôle de ces vésicules dans la progression du cancer de la prostate. Les vésicules extracellulaires (VEs) purifiés étaient capables de moduler la signalisation du récepteur des androgènes et d’activer la voie du TGFß. Les cellules tumorales prostatiques traitées par ces VEs deviennent plus agressive et acquierent des caractéristiques mésenchymateuses.En conclusion, nos résultats mettent en évidence une nouvelle fonction importante de CRIPTO dans le cancer de la prostate. Nous démontrons également que les cellules tumorales surexprimant ce facteur de croissance secrètent excessivement des vésicules qui participent activement dans la communication intercellulaire et promeuvent la progression du CaP. L’ensemble de nos travaux suggère que le ciblage thérapeutique de CRIPTO et le blocage de la sécrétion des VEs pourraient être des nouvelles approches thérapeutiques innovantes pour le traitement du cancer de la prostate. / Prostate cancer (PCa) remains at the top of the list of the most common malignant tumors and the dominant cause of mortality and morbidity in men worldwide. Detection of tumor biomarkers to aid differentiate indolent from severe PCa cases and well-choose patients at high risk for intensive treatment. The founding member of EGF-CFC protein superfamily, CRIPTO, is widely implicated in embryonic development and is found to be expressed in a wide spectrum of human tumors. As its role in PCa was still unclear, we aimed to investigate expression profile of CRIPTO in PCa and relate its potential impact on prostate malignancy.Prostatic tissues and cell lines, both normal and cancerous, were engaged in experimental studies and design was based on techniques used in biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology.CRIPTO showed to be upregulated in 37.9% of PCas, while being absent or marginally detected in benign conditions. Our results displayed that CRIPTO overexpression promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) associated with enhanced migration capacity and survival under stress conditions due to propensity to stimulate PI3K/AKT and FGFR1/ERK signaling pathways.More interestingly, tumor mesenchymal like cells overexpressing CRIPTO secreted vesicles excessively. Thus we attempted to uncover the role of these vesicles in the progression of PCa. Extracellular vesicles derived from these cells were highly capable to modulate androgen receptor signaling through TGF-ß pathway and rendering the recipient prostatic cells more aggressive by acquisition of mesenchymal features.Our results highlight a new substantial function of CRIPTO in PCa and put in evidence its importance as a new promising target for PCa treatment. Moreover, we emphasize on an original role of mesenchymal extracellular vesicles in the interclonal communication to carry and transfer tumorigenic contents and enhance progression of PCa. This opens new scopes towards better understanding of vesicles secreted by prostate cancer cells and their impact to better cure the disease.

Les cellules cancéreuses sont capables de réactiver la transition Epithélio-Mésenchymateuse (EMT), mécanisme embryonnaire, pour acquérir une mobilité et une capacité de dédifférenciation. L'EMT conduit à une reprogrammation génétique avec la réactivation d'inducteurs de l'EMT, qui sont en majorité des facteurs de transcription (EMT-TF), et conduit à l'inhibition de miARN. Par ailleurs des stress oncogéniques sont essentiels à la progression tumorale. Le but de mon projet de thèse était de comprendre comment les événements de reprogrammation génétique survenant au cours de l'EMT coopèrent avec des stress oncogéniques dans la transformation tumorale mammaire.Premièrement, un criblage basé sur la coopération oncogénique en soft agar assay, entre les EMT-TFs et les stress oncogénique a été réalisé. Suite à une analyse bioinformatique, différentes signatures d'EMT-TF associés à un stress oncogénique ont été identifiées. Ainsi, par exemple, l'expression de l'EMT-TF Zeb1 et l'EMT-TF GSC sont associés à la délétion du gène suppresseur de tumeur PTEN pour transformer des cellules mammaires immortalisées. Une analyse en immuno-histochimie sur un set de 558 tumeurs du sein triple négatives a validé in vivo la présence d'une corrélation entre l'expression de GSC et l'expression de PTEN. Cependant cette association semble être plus complexe. En effet, l'expression de GSC est négativement associée à l'expression nucléaire de PTEN tandis qu'elle est positivement associée à l'expression de PTEN cytoplasmique. Enfin une analyse sur des métadonnées publiques de cancers telles que le TCGA ou le METABRIC est en cours pour valider ces signatures in vitro et plus largement pour déterminer comment l'EMT ou les signatures associées aux EMT-TF se corrèlent avec les voies oncogéniques classiques. Deuxièmement, une analyse in silico à partir d'algorithmes prédictifs de cibles de miARN, a été réalisée pour sélectionner les miARN capables d'inhiber l'expression de plusieurs EMT-TF. Deux miARN (miR-495 et 590-3p) ont été identifiés ciblant plusieurs membres des 4 principales familles d'EMT-TF (FoxC, Snail, bHLH et ZEB). Des tests in vitro ont été réalisés pour valider ces régulations identifiant Slug comme une cible de miR-590-3p. De plus, l'expression de ces miARN dans des lignées cellulaires mammaires est négativement associée à l'expression des EMT-TF et des marqueurs de l'EMT. Un traitement au TGF, inducteur de l'EMT, diminue leur expression, signifiant potentiellement que ces miARN peuvent négativement réguler l'EMT. En parallèle, plusieurs EMT-TF sont capables de réprimer l'expression de miR-590-3p, agissant directement sur son promoteur, créant ainsi des boucles de régulation. Des études fonctionnelles utilisant des vecteurs d'expression stable de miR-590-3p sembleraient montrer un rôle secondaire de ce miARN dans la régulation de l'EMT car mir-590-3p dérégule des marqueurs secondaires de l'EMT comme la N-cadhérine. Des études de restauration de fonctions sont envisagées pour déterminer quelle est l'importance de ces boucles de régulation dans la progression tumorale mammaire. Plus largement, l'expression des miARN identifiés va être corrélée avec les signatures associées aux EMT-TF et aux voies oncogéniques classiques pour déterminer le lien entre ces trois composants dans la tumorigenèse mammaire. Mes travaux de thèse ont montré qu'il existait un intéractome entre des inducteurs de l'EMT, des stress oncogéniques et des miARNs au cours de la transformation mammaire humaine / Cancer cells are able to reactivate the Epithelio-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), an embryonic mechanism, to acquire mobility and dedifferentiation capacities. EMT leads to a genetic reprogramming with the reactivation of EMT inductors, mainly transcription factors (EMT-TF) and the inhibition of miRNA. Otherwise, oncogenic stresses are essentials to tumor progression. The aim of my thesis project was to have a better understanding about the cooperation between events of genetic reprogramming occurring during EMT and oncogenic stresses during mammary tumor transformation. First, a screening based on oncogenic cooperation in soft agar assay, between EMT-TFs and oncogenic stresses was performed. Following a bioinformatics analysis, different EMT-TFs signatures associated with an oncogenic stress were identified. Thus, for example, the expression of EMT-TF ZEB1 and GSC were associated with the deletion of tumor suppressor gene PTEN to transform immortalized mammary epithelial cells. An immunohistochemistry analysis on a set of 558 triple negative breast cancers validated in vivo the presence of a correlation between the expressions of GSC and PTEN. However, this association seems to be more complex. Indeed, the expression of GSC is negatively associated with the nuclear expression of PTEN while it’s positively associated with the cytoplasmic expression of PTEN. Finally, an analysis of public metadata on cancer samples as TCGA or METABRIC is ongoing to validate these in vitro signatures and wider to determine how EMT or EMT-TFs associated signatures correlate with classical oncogenic pathways.Secondly, an in silico analysis, from predictive algorithms of miRNA targets, was performed to select miRNA able to inhibit the expression of several EMT-TFs. Two miRNA (miR-495 and miR-590-3p) were identified targeting several members of four principal’s families of EMT-TFs (FOXC, Snail, bHLH and ZEB). In vitro tests were realized to validate these regulations identifying Slug as a target of miR-590-3p. Moreover, these miRNAs expression in mammary cell lines is negatively correlated with EMT-TFs expression and EMT markers. A treatment with TGF-, a major EMT inductor, decreases their expression, potentially meaning that these miRNA can negatively regulate EMT. In parallel, several EMT-TFs are able to repress the expression of miR-590-3p, acting directly on its promotor, thus creating feedback loops. Functional studies using stable expression vector of miR-590-3p suggest a secondary role of this miRNA in the regulation of EMT because miR-590-3p deregulates EMT secondary markers as N-Cadherin. Functions restauration studies are planned to determine how important these feedback loops in mammary tumor progression are. To open the project, expression of these identified miRNA will be correlated with EMT-TF associated signatures and with classical oncogenic pathways to determine the link between these three components in mammary tumorigenesis. My thesis works are shown that there is an interactome between EMT inductors, oncogenic stresses and miRNA during human mammary transformation

Rapidly growing tumor cells outgrow their blood supply resulting in a microenvironment with reduced oxygen and nutrients. Using an in vitro transformation model we found that cancer cells expressing the SV40 ST antigen (+ST cells) are more resistant to glucose deprivation-induced cell death than cells lacking the SV40 ST antigen (−ST cells). Mechanistically, we found that the ST antigen mediates this effect by activating a nutrient-sensing kinase, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). We further show that AMPK mediates its effects, at least in part, by inhibiting mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), thereby shutting down protein translation, and by inducing autophagy as an alternate energy source. Resistance to anoikis upon anchorage-deprivation is yet another form of stress tolerated by both normal stem/progenitor cells of various tissues in our body and by cancer cells. Using mammospheres as a model to enrich for stem/progenitor cells we found that mammosphere formation is accompanied with increased activation of AMPK. Concomitant with AMPK activation, we detected increased phosphorylation of the anti-apoptotic protein PED/PEA15. We further demonstrate that AMPK directly interacts with and phosphorylates PEA15 at Ser116, thus establishing PEA15 as a new AMPK target. Thus, our study has identified AMPK-PEA15 signaling as a key component of sphere formation by both normal and cancerous breast tissues. During metastasis, epithelial cells lose attachments to their neighbors, acquire a mesenchymal-like morphology, a process termed as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and become motile. Our results indicate that AMPK regulates EMT by both transcriptional and post-translational modification of EMT-inducing transcription factor, Twist. Thus, our study has identified a role for AMPK in nutrient deprivation, anchorage-independent growth, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition involved in metastasis. In addition, we have identified two novel substrates of AMPK, PEA15 and Twist, that may play key roles in cancer progression. Thus, our study suggests that targeting AMPK, or its newly identified substrates, can be explored as possible anti-cancer mechanisms.